WRITTEN QUESTION E-3041/00 by Joachim Wuermeling (PPE-DE) to the Council. Harmonisation of hallmarking provisions for goods made from precious metals.
Date: 2000-09-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common position, precious metal

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/45

Reply

(22 December 2000)

Turkey is a candidate State destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria that are applied to
like other candidate States,
the other candidate States. Under the current European strategy, Turkey,
benefits from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its reforms. This includes enhanced political
dialogue, with the emphasis on progress towards fulfilment of the political criteria for accession with
particular reference to the issue of human rights and the issues referred to in paragraphs 4 and 9(a) of the
conclusions of the Helsinki European Council; those conclusions also provided for the establishment of an
accession partnership on the basis of previous European Council conclusions that will define the priorities
on which accession preparations must concentrate in the light of the political and economic criteria and
the obligations which Member States must fulfil, together with a national programme for the adoption of
the acquis.

The Commission proposal on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in
the Accession Partnership with the Republic of Turkey was sent to the Council on 13 November 2000.
The Council has begun examining it.

(2001/C 151 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3037/00

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Recruitment difficulties in connection with the Northern dimension

The Commission decided on an action plan for the Northern dimension during the Portuguese Presidency.
It appears from various sources that the Commission is having difficulties recruiting people to work in this
field.

That being so, what does the Commission propose to do to overcome the recruiting difficulties regarding
the Northern dimension?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2000)

The European Council at Feira on 20 June 2000 endorsed the Northern dimension action plan and
concluded that the Commission would take a leading role in implementing it. The action plan foresees that
the Northern dimension should be implemented within existing frameworks and instruments and conse-
quently without additional budgetary or personnel resources. The Commission assures the Honourable
Member that the action plan is currently being implemented accordingly.

(2001/C 151 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3041/00

by Joachim Wuermeling (PPE-DE) to the Council

(29 September 2000)

Subject: Harmonisation of hallmarking provisions for goods made from precious metals

The adoption of the European Parliament and Council Directive on the approximation of the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning working in precious metals
(COD 93/0472) has been held up in the Council of Ministers for some years now. In particular the

C 151 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

continuance of divergent hallmarking provisions in some Member States are forming a considerable
obstacle to intra-Community trade in products made from precious metals by imposing costly and time-
consuming certification procedures before such products can enter the market. Although these obstacles to
the free movement of goods have been known about for some time, a number of Member States are
apparently holding up the urgently needed efforts towards harmonisation.

1. What reasons does the Council consider are currently still standing in the way of the rapid adoption
of the common position?

Is the Council prepared to deal with this topic under the French Presidency and to ensure the rapid

2.
adoption of the common position which has been outstanding since 1994?

Reply

(22 December 2000)

As the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question states, the Commission submitted a proposal on goods made

1.
from precious metals in 1993.

The Council has considered the proposal on several occasions with a view to reaching a common position.

However, it has not been possible to resolve the issue as two major problems have been encountered (cid:129)
the provisions on marking and certification procedures.

2.

At present, the Council has no plans to resume its consideration of the proposal.

(2001/C 151 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3044/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(28 September 2000)

Subject: Red diesel

Can the Commission detail fuel subsidies provided to farmers in the various Member States of the Union,
such as the (cid:145)Red Diesel(cid:146) provided within the UK?

What plans does the Commission have, in the interests of free competition, to propose harmonisation of
such subsidies?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 2000)

The Commission does not have the information requested. According to Article 8(2)(f) of Directive 92/81/
EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on mineral oils (1),
without prejudice to other Community provisions, Member States may apply total or partial exemptions or
reductions in the rate of duty to mineral oils used under fiscal control exclusively in agricultural and in
horticultural works, and in forestry and inland fisheries. Directive 92/81/EEC does not oblige Member
States to communicate to the Commission the duties actually applied in agriculture.

Consequently, as long as they remain within the framework set by Directive 92/81/EEC, differences
between Member States in taxation of diesel used in agriculture are thus the result of this Directive.
A Commission proposal for a Council directive restructuring the Community framework for the taxation
of energy products (2) is under examination in the Council.